Rediff

Chandigarh, Jan 30: The Bharatiya Janata Party today said it was keen on wooing actress Shilpa Shetty, whose popularity has soared following her appearance in the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother, to join the party.

Actor-turned-member of Parliament Vinod Khanna told a news conference in Chandigarh that Shilpa should join the BJP, which projected itself as the "big brother" of the country's politics.

"We are trying to rope in Shilpa to our party," he told reporters.

"We are definitely looking at her as a potential candidate and she may join us in the future," the MP from Gurdaspur said.

Khanna's comments on Shilpa being roped in by the party came when he was asked about her win in the Big Brother show on Sunday.

"We (the BJP) are big brothers and we would be happy if she joins the BJP," said the three-time MP who has been campaigning in Punjab which goes to polls on February 13.

Asked if he was serious about Shilpa being roped in by his party, he said, "I am not joking. Whatever I said, I meant it. Hopefully yes...

"There are so many actors who came in after I joined the BJP. Similarly, we are looking at potential candidates who can join us and Shilpa happens to be one of them," he said.

Asked if BJP president Rajnath Singh or any senior party leader had talked to Shilpa, the former Union minister said, "I cannot disclose much at this moment, but you wait and see."